Cory Jurica
Cory.N.Jurica@disney.com or coryjurica@juno.com • H (863) *** - ****
Précis: Well rounded corporate creative artist with mechanical understanding and well versed in multiple arenas of Disney Parks and Resorts
Attributes and Qualifications:
- Walt Disney World College Program Alumni (1997-98)
- Partners in Excellence Recipient - Walt Disney Company’s lifelong achievement award received 2005
- Well rounded diversification in the Walt Disney World Company:
WDW Engineering Maintenance - Facility Operations Services - Artist Prep Support
WDW Resorts - Club Level Concierge, Itinerary planning, high profile guest interaction, Guest Services, Front Desk, suites level processes
WDW Parks – individual and mass guest interaction, flow and crowd control - Attractions Ops, Custodial Ops, Theater Ops and Area
Trainer on procedures and efficiencies, checkout testing and certifications of new cast, two opening teams, Coordinator
- Extensive knowledge in scenic shop trades, maintenance and production
- Specialties in animatronic silicone skin fabrication and repair, mold injections, pigment applications
- Disney University seminar classes in promoting diversity and personal progress
- Project Lead for $300k+ rehab and Retro fit installation team on prototype 2 to 10 ton mechanical animation figures; multiple rehabs, and
emergency rebuilds of skins, shells, support systems and fluid filled eyes for Audio-Animatronic figures
- Demonstrable leadership and peer respect as indicated by nomination to Vice President of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Zeta Pi Chapter – 95-96
- Attendance of Sigma Chi’s Leadership Training Workshop in London Ontario weeklong Leadership Program- certificate - 1995
- Possesses a deep sense of personal responsibility, strives for open and clear communication, high professional aptitude indicative of skills,
prioritization of completing projects correctly and efficiently the first time
Education:
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX
2 years toward a Bachelors of Science – studies in Mechanical Engineering; Minor in Art 1993-96
1 year in College of Arts and Humanities
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, TX
Degree - Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Design (GPA 3.38) BA – Dec 1998
Emphasis in Art History, Sculpting, Computer Graphic Design, studies in Psychology
Experience:
Walt Disney World —Lake Buena Vista, FL
Show Finisher / Artist Prep Support – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park (June 2005 - Present)
- One of four Providing artistic aesthetic maintenance, support, direction and documentation in Engineering Services for all Disney’s Animal
Kingdom audio-animatronic figures, parade floats, stage show sets and ride vehicles
- Extensive knowledge in silicone skins, injection molds, repair paint and pigment, including maintenance for skin carrier support systems for
oversized audio Animatronics
- Lead successful production trials of silicone skin fabrication in house, versus 3rd party vendor, corporate savings of $ 10,000 USD per set
- Working in and around heavy machinery, high energy rides, including 10+ ton Animatronic figures operating at 3000 PSI hydraulic
- Self managed. On property with direct report approx 2 hours per week
- Prioritize long and short term project deadlines and bench work against field calls and show critical and ride critical emergencies
- Increased production of team nearly 3 fold by pairing teams to compliment skills
- Small and Mid scale mold making, mold injection, casting of props, artifacts as needed to maintain or enhance show quality
- Specialized pigments, color matching, silicone skin pigments, black light work, urethanes, water based urethanes, acrylics, acrethanes, etc.
- Medium and small scale FRP repair and fabrication
- Utilization of computer based graphic systems, vinyl plotters, lettering, masking, sand blast masks, signage, sign shop processes
- Researched and reverse engineered assembly and construction/ creation of acrylic/plastic fluid filled eyes, mounting plate fabrication and
eyelid mechanisms – successfully increasing life from a four month average to over 2 years
- Small and mid concrete façade repairs, sculpt blends on rockwork facades in areas like the Boneyard, and Tree of Life, Animal habitats
- Safe handling and application of solvent based paints, epoxies, resins, esters, structural adhesives, methyl methacrylates, isocyanates, etc
- Daily ―quick thinking‖ applicable solutions to the often unexpected problems to show critical elements, often utilizing unconventional
products or techniques. Examples include skin to FRP shell retrofits for rehab of life size Audio-Animatronic Dinosaurs.
- Assist Mechanics in hydraulic diagnostics, troubleshooting technical issues critical to animation show profiles
- Featured in Eyes and Ears Cover July 2009, with wife, Laura Jurica, highlighting night crew and married working team
Walt Disney World —Lake Buena Vista, FL
Club Level Concierge and Guest Services — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (2004- 05)
- Tend to 80+ concierge rooms and suites (rates from $395.00 - $2,405.00 per night) including complimentary food service amenities bars,
requiring food handling, beverage and alcohol certifications
- Provide and fulfill service requests for high profile Resort Guests, including Itinerary Planning, room/suite accommodations, charges/billing,
dining offerings, special needs, transportation, data entry, ticket sales, recreation and entertainment reservations
Central Florida CORE Construction Inc.—Kissimmee/Poinciana/Moss Park, FL
Carpenter — (Jan 2004- July 2005)
- 35 houses in 6 months, upwards of ranging from 1800 to 5000 sq ft, many multi-million dollar homes
- Working with and around heavy machinery, operators, especially cranes during truss set
- Insure and apply proper bearing weight load bearing support, adequate hardware fastening systems, floor plan layout, decking, roofing,
structural framing techniques required by engineering code and architect design prior to frame inspection and punch out
- Code application of structural support, straps, interior walls, archways, doorways, egress built to code and plan specifications via blueprint
Walt Disney World —Lake Buena Vista, FL
Concierge and Guest Services —Contemporary Resort (2001- 04)
- Tend to 60+ concierge rooms and suites (rates from $325.00 - $2,005.00 per night) including complimentary food service amenities bars,
requiring food/beverage and alcohol handling certifications
- Provide and fulfill service requests for high profile Resort Guests, including Itinerary Planning, room/suite accommodations, charges/billing,
dining offerings, special needs, transportation, data entry, ticket sales, recreation and entertainment reservations
- Improved special needs, guest request and room placement tracking by redesigning and implementing Excel based spreadsheet functions and
diagrams, predating official Disney concierge tracking software bundles
Attractions/Operations —Dinoland USA, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park (Apr. 1999-2001)
- Dinoland Area Attraction all Operations Trainer – ―Tarzan Rocks‖, DINOSAUR, Boneyard, Custodial and Greeter
- Safety Committee Member – one of six from 200+ cast members, focus on solutions for cast and guest hazards and safety regulations
Special Projects—Walt Disney World
- Dinosaur The Ride (DTR) rehab of Carno FA 21, and Velociraptor FA 22 rod, fiberglass, rib, silicone skin and install (Nov 2010)
- Dinosaur The Ride (DTR) Project Lead for Installation FA 4 ―Scratchy‖ hard shell retrofit and rehab 300k project (Feb 2010)
- Expedition Everest - Yeti Installation – Shell hull, spandex body sock and fur installation application (Aug – December 2005)
- Lucky The Dinosaur – ―Vet Team‖ for WDI’s 1st self contained Audio-Animatronic. skin repair and replacement (June – Aug 2005)
- WDI Theme Production – Assisted in Project construction for ―100 years of Magic Celebration‖ (Aug 2001)
- PDA Prototype Test Team – Partnered with Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development Executives from Glendale, CA.
tested cutting edge technology to enhance Guest experiences. Chosen as one of ten Cast Members from 800+ candidates (Nov 2000)
- AZA Special Events Team - 1st weeklong convention in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park for American Zoological Aquarium Assoc.
- ―Tarzan Rocks‖ Opening Team; 1 of 10 chosen from over two hundred Cast Members who applied (July 1999)
- Member of Special Events Crew for Rosie O’Donnell TV Show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park (May 2000)
- Coordinator - Super Soap Weekend Team Leader of 20 cast members –Week long special event – (1997)
Creative Eyes Design—Kissimmee-St. Cloud, FL
Production Artist / Sculptor, Design and Construction (May-Dec 1999)
- Per contracts, designed and constructed projects in accordance with bid specifications
- Media included paints, phosphorescence black light paints, industrial adhesives, chemical liquid plastics, aluminum
hardware, clay, latex and catalyzed liquid plastic cast silicone molds, foam molds and foam sheet patterns
- Engineered and customized design mechanics and construction for use by puppeteers
- Clients included, but were not limited to, Walt Disney World and Hard Drive, Inc.
Pounds Photo Labs, Inc.—Austin, TX
Lab Technician, Color Correction (Jan-May 1999)
- One of two Color Correction Technicians in Lab of more than fifty employees.
- Assisted production of professional prints in department of special accounts from California
- Tested batch negatives, color correct proofs in color, matching for both physical and digital environments
- Digital touch up and photo manipulation via Adobe Photoshop from professional photography companies
- Identified, resolved and informed departments of challenges occurring throughout the print production process
- Assured product quality and lab efficiency
Creative Art Designs Originals — Davenport, Fl.
Dinah Bowman Studios—Portland, TX
Artisan Conglomerate (1998-present)
- Developed processes in making archival quality handmade paper, both unique and artistically aesthetic in composition
- Efforts included a partnership with Dinah Bowman, whose works are displayed in the Smithsonian Institute
- Created artistic pieces through various applications of self-made paper in my own work as well as with Ms. Bowman’s renowned
Gyotaku fish prints, (currently marketed in Central Texas, South Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and regions of Russia)
- A limited number of photographs of my work is available for review
- For current works and style progression, visit http://creativeartdesigns.bravehost.com
WDW College Program, WALT DISNEY WORLD—Disney/MGM Studios
Custodial Host, Attractions Host, Opening Attraction Team Member, Coordinator (1997-1998)
- Unique opportunities began with the addition of two months prior to the original internship
- Recognized by Management for work ethic and asked to transfer to Attractions
- Chosen by Management to be part of the Opening Team of a new attraction and to write the Standard Operating Procedures
- Coordinator for New York Street—ABC Super Soap Weekend, 1997 prepare and lead a 12-member Team at MGM Studios
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Coffeecup Software Inc.—Corpus Christi, TX
Icon Graphic Designer (Jan-June 1997)
- Employment per contract
- Subcontracted for progressive business programs in multiple controlled version releases
- Designed conventional icon tabs and toolbar buttons for software programs, including Visual HTML editing software
Disney Certifications:
- Hazardous Materials Handling
- Hazardous Waste Materials Handling
- Scaffold erection certificate for structural safety buyoff
- Various high reach operation articulating and knuckle boom up to 80ft extension, 10,000 lb. forklift operation, JCB telehandler operation
- Lock out/Tag out authorized user on high energy site specific – ride legislation
Computer Knowledge:
Programming
Instructed in: Turbo Pascal, Borland C++, FORTRAN 1994-95
Platforms and Software
Knowledge in: Some DOS, UNIX and Novell environments 1995-97
Windows 3.1 to Vista, MS Office 2007 including Excel, Word, Powerpoint 10.26
Graphics Software Accredited and skilled in:
Sun Microsystems, PC and Macintosh
PC- CAD key, Auto Cad, MS Paint, Paint Shop Pro, 1996-97
(Some Corel Systems Package version 6.0) 1998
Photoshop, Illustrator, MS FrontPage, Pinnacle Studio 9 2003-05
Some Adobe CS4 packages, intermediate Google Sketchup, current
Mac- Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator,
Claris Homepage, GIF Builder, Adobe PageMaker 1996-99
Disney Software
Disney Property Management System DPMS (HRGAS), DRS, Espresso,
MS Outlook, CMS, Disney’s Intranet for park wide Guest Services 2000-06
Maximo, maxraw, symbol hand helds, basic Rexroth, basic DASH 2005-2011
Intro/basics SAP, Sharepoint
Highlighted Pastimes:
Investment Property Renovation
Private Residential Rehabs and Resale - no Contractors (2009- present)
- Purchase of distressed and foreclosed residential property
- Tight operating budget and modest resources
- All work performed with wife, Laura Jurica
- Roof repair, stucco repair, textures, sealer prep, paint
- Tear out, rebuild of sheetrock walls, float and texture
- Rebuild door jambs, modify existing hardware, lighting, cabinetry, etc.
- Pool refurbish, pumps, wiring, filters and salt system install
- Concrete kitchen countertops, and acid stain concrete floors
- Complete bathroom renovation – shower tearout and install, plumbing, cement board, thin set, tile
Economical World Travel
Passport Received (2001)
- Target median price under 100 USD/day including Airfare, minus some meals
- Seven Continents before the age of 35 (including Antarctica) (2002 – 2009)
- Mexico (1994)
- Canada (1995)
- Bahamas (1999)
- Italy – Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Pisa, Capri (2002, 2007)
- Florence Italy – Married in the Palazzo Vecchio (2002)
- France – Paris, Torre Annunziata, Blois, Chambord, Annecy, Loire Valley, Mont Blanc (2003)
- Egypt – (2003)
- UK - England (2004)
- China – Beijing, Shanghai (2004)
- Thailand (2005)
- Turkey and Greece (2006)
- Germany – Frankfurt, Munchen, Rheine Valley (2007)
- Argentina – Buenos Ares, Uruguay- Monte Video, Falkland Islands, Cape Horn, Magellan Strait,
Chile - Punta Arenas, Panama, Antarctica, (2008)
- Australia – Sydney, New Zealand (2009)
- India – (May 2010)
- Kenya – (November 2011)
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